The Song of Eternity
Canto 2 : Gaia
Verse 8
Armageddon
The evil one makes a mistake,
Angering the one,
Letting emotion control his actions,
Losing advantage in the war.
Mages in all the cities felt the broadcast being sent out. It appeared on walls and ground all over the world. The execution of Travis Starmore was to begin. As the picture cleared, several figures became clear. The first was Garland in his genome body and ominous black body armor and cloak. The next few forms that could be made out were the three weaker WEAPONs that Garland himself commanded through use of personality clones.
"People of Gaia, my patience with you has worn thin," Garland began. "You should enjoy this meager victory while you can. We will come for you tomorrow, and no survivors will be left this time. This is our world now," Garland grinned evilly. "Your resistance made a choice. The choice was to retake your cities instead of saving Travis Starmore, the greatest warrior that you ever had on your side, and the brother of your commander. As promised, he will now be executed," Garland finished as he stepped away, allowing the screen to follow Travis being transported.
He was still trapped in the green sphere of energy with sonic pulses being sent coursing through his broken body. The sphere was being carried to the area in front of the three minor WEAPONs by the Alpha WEAPON. The Alpha WEAPON set the sphere down and turned to the screen and Garland. "This man is a great warrior Garland. I will not watch this travesty," he finished angrily before lifting off into the air and flying away.
"He is respected by his mortal enemy even," Garland laughed. "He was your only hope of winning this war, your forces are too weak and spread out, we will kill you all after we take care of him." Garland walked toward the sphere and the image on the screens across the world zoomed in and followed him. Garland disappeared from the screen as it zoomed in on Travis himself.
"Take a look at your hero Gaia," Garland laughed as the picture moved across his body. His shirt was in tatters, what was left was soaked in blood. The bones in his arms were not sticking through the skin, but the shape could be seen, confirming that they were horribly broken. The same went for his legs. His face was bruised all over and his hair was caked with blood. His skin was covered in blood and cuts, showing he had been tortured. His metal arm dripped blood and the light inside was dim.
It zoomed out as Garland injected something into Travis's neck. "Time to wake him up in time for his own death," Garland said to the world. All around the world, women looked away and men stared at the screen in anger. Travis's head began to move until his eyes opened and he lifted his head. "Say hello to the world Starmore," Garland ordered. Travis tried to say something, but ended up coughing up a mouth full of blood. Garland laughed and grasped Travis's chin in his hand. "You are pitiful Starmore. It appears your failed existence will end here," Garland removed his hand and Travis's head fell forward.
Garland began to walk away, but stopped when he heard a noise from his captive. He could not make it out the first time, but as he got close again, he could make out the words. "Who is the angel…" he whispered. His head lifted a little as he gazed past Garland into space. Garland laughed at Travis's delirium. "She want to know about Fiona and Alek…." Travis added before his head fell down again.
"In your ravings, you actually made some sense Starmore," Garland said calmly. "Fiona and Alek, your wife and child," Garland grinned as he told the story.
"That bastard is gonna pay," Amarant said through gritted teeth in Burmecia as he watched the broadcast with Lani and Freya. "He does not need to know this before he dies."
The image focused on Travis's limp head as Garland spoke. "While you were fighting the Alpha WEAPON in the Great Battle, I sent one of my other WEAPONs to Danguerro," Garland explained. "There was only one soul who tried to defy it. A tattooed woman with long blue hair. She had a baby with her. She tried to stop the WEAPON, but she and the baby were slaughtered," Garland stopped and moved his face next to Travis's. "I sent it there. I knew she would be there," he taunted. The image moved back as Garland stepped away, leaving Travis suspended in the green sphere of energy in front of the three WEAPONs.
"I tire of this, WEAPONs, prepare to fire!"
Lani turned her head when she heard the command, not wanting to see the execution. Amarant looked at the situation intently, stepping back in awe. "Garland, you stupid son of a bitch," he whispered.
"Ready! Aim!" Garland ordered as the WEAPONs pointed their energy weapons at Travis's head. "Fire!" Garland shouted as the WEAPONs unleashed enough firepower to demolish a city, leaving nothing but a huge dust cloud. As the cloud cleared, two pinpoints of red light were seen glowing through the dust. As the dust cleared more the pinpoints of light moved up into the air and the broadcast followed the lights.
As the lights finally cleared the dust, the green sphere was floating in the air. The lights were his eyes. There was the sound of a shockwave and the sphere itself exploded. Travis floated back down to the ground sending the dust swirling away, finally landing back where he was originally located. When he landed he put his hands together and as he pulled them apart a huge, red curved blade appeared in his left hand. He looked up at Garland and spoke. "You will pay for this," he said calmly.
His muscles tensed and the image shook. Fires could be seen breaking out all across the city behind him. Lightning cracked down out of the sky into the city and around Travis as he walked towards Garland. "I will do to you what you did to me. I will take everything you hold dear. I will exterminate your entire world," he said menacingly.
"You forget Starmore. I am not alone here," Garland said as ran past Travis to the WEAPONs. "Kill him now!" Garland shouted as the WEAPONs unleashed another barrage on Starmore. An errant blast impacted the broadcast machine, killing the images being sent to the rest of the world.
The WEAPONs stopped firing after a minute. Starmore stood there looking back at them. He stepped closer to them, his body bristling with power. His body had turned dark as night during the attack. White pinpoints of energy began to form and rush toward the surface of his skin. "You finished. I will come back here and destroy this monstrosity after I hunt down Alpha," Travis spoke in a deep voice. "But now, you are done for," he finished as the light ripped out of his body, through his enemies, and through the city itself.
He turned away from the carnage, disappearing as a cloud of smoke swirled around him.